Apparatus and Method for Automatically Detecting Presence of External Device in Mobile Terminal

1. An apparatus for automatically detecting the presence of an external device in a port of a mobile terminal, comprising: a connection unit to electrically connect an external device to the mobile terminal, and to send level information according to a type of external device connected to the mobile terminal, wherein the level information has a different voltage level according to the type of connected external device; a switch end to identify that the external device is electrically connected to the connection unit if the switch end is open; a sensor to determine the type of external device electrically connected to the connection unit according to the voltage level of the level information and to generate an indication signal containing a determination result; a main processor to generate a control signal to control the external device according to the indication signal; and an external device controller to control the external device, if the external device is connected to the mobile terminal, by receiving the control signal from the main processor, wherein the external device controller enables the connected external device automatically if the external device is connected to the connection unit.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the port is an earphone jack port.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the level information has a first voltage level if an earphone/microphone set is connected to the mobile terminal and a second voltage level if an external device other than an earphone/microphone set is connected to the mobile terminal.

4. A method for automatically detecting the presence of an external device in a port of a mobile terminal, comprising: detecting that a switch end is in an open position to indicate that the external device is connected to the mobile terminal, and obtaining level information from a connection unit, wherein the level information has a different voltage level according to a type of connected external device; determining the type of external device electrically connected to the connection unit according to the voltage level of the level information; and enabling an external device control unit if the external device is electrically connected to the connection unit.

5. An apparatus for automatically detecting the presence of an external device in a port of a mobile terminal, comprising: a connection unit to electrically connect an external device to the mobile terminal; a sensor to determine whether the external device is electrically connected to the connection unit according to an open-closed status of a switch end; a send/end controller to check a level information of the connection unit and pass the level information to a main processor according to sensing of the sensor, wherein the level information has a different voltage level according to a type of connected external device; an external device controller to control the external device, if the external device is connected to the mobile terminal, by receiving the control signal from the main processor; and the main processor to generate a control signal to control the external device according to the level information if the external device is electrically connected to the connection unit.

6. A method for automatically detecting the presence of an external device in a port of a mobile terminal, comprising: determining if a switch end of a connection unit has an open status; checking a level information of the connection unit, wherein the level information has a different voltage level according to a type of connected external device; determining the type of external device electrically connected to the connection unit according to the voltage level of the level information; and enabling an external device controller if the external device is electrically connected to the connection unit.